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The current vehicle registration plate system of Cuba was introduced in May 2013. It had completely replaced the previous system which was introduced in 2002 and which is described below.
Contents
2013 Revised system
Under the new system black characters on white background is the standard format for all license plates. A letter is placed before six digits. The most common is "P", which indicates a personally owned vehicle. "B" government, "F" is for military FAR vehicle, "M" is for Internal Affairs Ministry, "T" for rental units, "D" diplomatic, "E" embassy, and "K" for foreign companies. The same system is used on all classes of vehicles, from trucks through motorcycles. However, to accommodate available space the motorcycle plates are square rather than the standard long rectangle.
Identification (old system)
Cuban vehicle registration plates (licence plates) contained three letters and three numbers. The colour of plates is also an important identification element. Ordinary (non-special) licence plates have also a number on the lower central part of the plate ranging from 0 to 9, denoting the type of the vehicle. As of 2016 some of these plates are still in use, but are being phased out.
First letter
The first letter denotes the province where the licence plate was issued. Until 2011, "B" was used by the former La Habana Province.
Second letter and colour
The second letter identify the type of vehicle owner.
Vehicle type number
The vehicle type number can be found on the lower central part of the plate, it is a one digit number ranging from 0 to 9, it denotes the type of the vehicle. This is not used on special licence plates.
Special licence plates
Cars of the Cuban Army and the Cuban Ministry of Interior use plates with one letter (A, B, C, F or S) followed by five digits. On the cars of the Cuban Army there is a "FAR" (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias) inscription in the central lower part of the licence plate. In the case of the Ministry of Interior, there is a "MININT" (Ministerio del Interior) inscription. Licence plates of the Army are always of light green colour, while plates of the Ministry of Interior are dark green.
Diplomatic cars use 6 digits without preceding letters. There is a "D", "C" or "E" letter in the lower left part of the licence plate (D = diplomatic, C - consular, E - other status). They have a black colour licence plate.
Cars for hire have a licence plate beginning with "T" letter (meaning turista), followed by five digits. They are of dark red colour.
Provisional licence plates have the normal code of the province followed by 4 digits and a "P" letter, the colour of the plate is light red.
Cars of the United States military in the Guantanamo Bay use licence plates with one letter and four numbers, and texts "U.S.N.B." and "Gtmo Bay Cuba".